Lester Heyboer, HealthSource president and chief executive officer, said the administrators should have plans ready by the end of the month and start the formal contractor bidding process by the third week in August.

He said he's hopeful HealthSource will have a contractor to start construction by the end of summer or early fall, with a completion target of early 2013.

The county facility is adding nine beds for children's care at White Pine Mental Health Center, which will bring the total bed count for adolescents to 23.

Lester Heyboer Jr.

That is the maximum amount HealthSource can add, Leyboer said.

The expansion will allow HealthSource each month to provide care to 50
additional children and hire 12 new
employees.

Increasing bed space for children will help rectify a need for such services, Heyboer said. Other than the Saginaw Township-based facility, there are no other such services on the East side of the state to the Upper Peninsula or down to Oakland County.

"There's an extreme need for capacity here around the Saginaw
area," he said. "We believe those beds will be filled the day we open them."

This also marks the first time HealthSource is using its own funds to finance the $4 million to $5 million project, he said.

Heyboer said the facility submitted a request for the expansion to the state in January.

HealthSource is a 319-bed facility for physical rehabilitation, extended care and behavioral care located at 3340 Hospital.